Toy vehicle with automatic brake



Jan. 3, 1956 o 2,729,021

TOY VEHICLE WITH AUTOMATIC BRAKE Filed July 17, 1951 2 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR. a?

54 BY A XMOA/D J mH/e 1e AUUENEU Jan. 3, 1956 R. .1. LOHR 2,729,021

TOY VEHICLE WITH AUTOMATIC BRAKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1951 llllllll INVENTOR. EA YMOND f LOHB A770E/VEY5 United States Patent F TGY VEHICLE WITHAUTOMATIC BRAKE Raymond J. Lohr, Erie, Pa., assignor to LouisMarx & Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 17, 1951,; Serial No. 237,217

12 Claims. (Cl. 46-112) This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to vehicle toys.

The primary object of the invention is to generally improve vehicle toys. A more particular object is to provide a vehicle toy with brake mechanism, and means to automatically apply the brake after the vehicle has travelled a predetermined desired distance. Still another object 1s to provide means to readily vary the predetermined d1stance which the vehicle travels before being stopped by the brake. In accordance with a further feature and object of the invention, the vehicle is provided with a relatively movable pointer and scale, the latter being graduated in units of distance, thus facilitating setting the permitted travel distance at a desired amount.

From another and different viewpoint itmay be said that an objetct of the invention isto provide a game based on ability to judge distance, the participants estimating the distance to a predetermined goal or target, and setting the brake adjustment accordingly. The vehicle is then run toward the goal, and the accuracy of the estimates may be determined by the stopping'point of the vehicle relative to the target.

A further object of the invention is to provide avehicle toy with a sound-producing'means which maybe-driven by a wheel, but which is normally ineffective. Appropriate control means, responsive to the distance'travelled by the vehicle, makes the sound-producing means effective.

In accordance with a more specific object of the invention the realism of the automatically braked 'toy is enhanced by combining both the braking means and the sound-producing means, the latter being made to simulate the screeching of suddenly applied brakes. A single distance adjustment may be employed to control both the sound-producing means and the brake means, but ,the'relative timing may be such as to-make one preferably the sound-producing means-eifective ahead of the other, in simulation of brakes being applied forcibly just before the vehicle stops.

To accomplish the 'foregoingobjec'ts, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the vehicle and'brake and sound-producing elements, and their relation one to'another, as are hereinafter more particularly'described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom pilan view of ayeliicle toy embodying features of the resent, invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectiontake'n' approximatelyin the plane of the line 22 of Fig. '1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of apart of the mechanism;

Fig. 4 is similar, but with the parts in released relation;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the toy .vc'hicle shown'in Figs. 1 and 2; V

Fig. 6 is a section taken approximately in theplane of the line 66 of Fig.2; I

2,729,021 @Patented Jan. 3, 1956 Fig. 7 is a similarsection, but with the sound-producing mechanism in operative condition;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section showing a detail of the sound-producing means;

Fig. 9 .is'a fragmentary vertical section, similar to Fig.

.2, but showing a modification in which a biasing spring cle or auto vA may be pushed or driven toward a suitable .goal or object, in this case the wall W of a room. The toy runs rapidly toward the wall, but is suddenly stopped with a realistic screeching of brakes at a point just short of the wall W, as indicated by the broken line position A. The distance at which the brake is automatically applied is variable, and may be preliminarily adjusted by the operator according to his best estimate of the distance between the starting point and the wall.

Referring now to the other figures of the drawings, I there show a toy vehicle having a body 12, front Wheels 14, 15, and rear Wheels 16, 17, and a brake 18. This brake is applied in response to the integrated rotation of the wheels. The brake control mechanism is preferably provided with a suitable handle or means 20, accessible on .the outside of the vehicle, to readily vary the predetermined number of rotations or distance before the brakeis applied. Referring now to Fig. 5, the vehicle preferably includes a graduated scale 22, and an indicator 24 cooperatingwith the scale, 'the scale preferably being in units of length which, here in theUnited States, conveniently may be in feet. Adjustment of the pointer relative to the scale predetermines the distance the vehicle will travel before the brake is applied.

Considering the arrangement in greater detail, one of the axles-in this case the rear axle carrying the rear wheel i7is threaded with a comparatively deep thread, as indicated at 26. A lever 28 extends horizontally beneath the vehicle for substantially its entire length, the said lever being pivoted at 30 near one end of the vehicle, in this case the forward end. The other end projects beyond the end of'the vehicle and may be bent around a simulated rear bumper 32 forming a part of the vehicle body, this being indicated by the pointer 24 best shown in Fig. 2. A rib ,or fin 36 acts functionally asa nut engaging the thread 26. The nut 36 is mounted on and carried by the lever 28. The lever 28 also carries, or has a part shaped to act as, the brake element 18 previously referred to. It will be evident from examination of Fig. 1 that as the vehicle travels the arm 28 is .movedtoward one side, .as is indicated by the change from the solid line position to the broken line position,

The nut-or-fin 36 is preferably movable on the lever '28, so that it may be disengaged from the thread 26 .and thereby release the lever '28 forjsideward adjustment to any desiredestartingpoint. In the present case the fin 36 is formed ona plate or a strip 38 which is longitudinally slidable on'lever 28. For this purpose the strip 38 is slotted at 40, and is connected to the lever 28 by means .of eyelets 42 which permit frictional longitudinal m'ovementof' the strip 38. Moreover, it is the rear end .of .strip 38 which is prefer'ably bent upwardly and forwardlyto form the indicator 24, and it'preferably has ears or finger tabs 20 bent outwardly on each side to act as a handle.

.Thus to set a desired operating distance the handle 20' is-seized and pulled rearwardly, changing the nut 36 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, at which time it is free of the thread. There is no need to invert the toy, or to even lift it from the floor. The handle 29 is then moved sidewardly to the desired distance, as indicated by the scale 22 shown in Fig. 5, and is then pushed inward which, of course, reengages the nut 36 with the threaded rear axle. By a computation involving the pitch of the thread 26 and the circumference of the wheels 16 and 17, the scale 22 at the rear of the vehicle may be laid out by the manufacturer in known units of distance, such as feet. This is not essential, for the scale units may be arbitrary, and yet will be helpful after repeated operation.

Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawing, the vehicle is preferably provided with a sound-producing means. in the present case the front axle 44 carries a wheel 46 having a serrated edge for cooperation with a vibratile element 48. This is preferably a leaf spring so shaped as to normally bear yieldably and frictionally against the disc 46. The stationary end of element 48 may be secured to a fibre plate 50, which in turn is mounted on the body of the vehicle. The vibratile element 48 is normally held away from the disc 46 by means of a cam 52, and that in turn is mounted on and moved sidewardly by the main operating lever 28 previously referred to.

The cam 52 and its operation are best shown in Figs. 6 and '7. In Fig. 6 the cam 52 is beneath the vibratile element 48, thus holding the edge of the latter away from the disc 46. However, as the main lever 28 moves to the right and closely approaches the braking position, the cam 52 leaves the vibratile element 48 as shown in Fig. 7, and the latter rubs against the disc 46. This produces the desired sound, which is preferably made to simulate the screeching of the brakes of a suddenly stopped automobile. if the provided brake action is gradual, the sound and the brake may be started simultaneously. However, in the particular toy here illustrated the brake action is rather abrupt, and somewhat greater realism in operation is obtained by so shaping and locating the cam 52 that the sound begins slightly ahead of the brake.

It will be understood that the vehicle may simulate any known vehicle. In the present case it simulates a passenger car of conventional type, and has a body 12 which may be molded out of a single piece of plastic. The plastic body is an inverted shell with openings to simulate windows. It is entirely open at the bottom. However, the body is stiffened and reinforced by appropriate webs, in this case seven webs indicated at 60, 62, a4, and 66. These preferably terminate at their inner edges in vertical cylindrical edges, which may be used for ejection purposes in the molding operation, and some of which may be employed in the finished toy for'structural mounting purposes. For example, the pivot for the main operating lever 28 may consist of a plastic rivet formed integrally with web 60, and the lower end or head of which is expanded under heat to secure the lever 28 in place. The lever may be held upward in engagement with the thread 26 by means of a metal cross strip 68, and this may be secured in position by plastic rivets 70 formed integrally with the webs 64, and the lower ends of which are riveted or spread by application of heat to secure the support strip 68 in place.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the fibre plate 50 may be approximately square in outline, and is secured in position by means of four small plastic rivets 72 which may be molded integrally with the vehicle body, and the lower ends of which may be riveted or headed beneath the fibre plate. The plate is perforated to receive the rivets, and is also slotted at 74 (Fig. 8) to receive the upturned end of the vibratile element 48. In this way a single eyelet 76 may be employed to secure the element 48 on the fibre plate 50, the resulting sub-assembly being made before the plate is secured in the vehicle body.

The plate 60 may be used to act as a sound amplifier or sounding board, as well as a mounting plate.

The lever 28 may be formed of sheet metal, but in such case is preferably stilfened by bending the side edges upwardly to give the same a channel-shaped section, best shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Referring now to Fig. 9 of the drawing, I there show a modification in which the nut or fin 36' and slidable plate 38' have an upward extension 80 to which the rear end of a pull spring 82 may be connected. The forward end of the spring is connected to an upward extension 8 3 of the main lever 28. It will be evident that with this arrangement the nut 36 is normally biased toward the forward or thread-engaging position, so that it is normally in engagement with the threaded axle 26. To set a predetermined stopping distance it is merely necessary to pull the handle 20 rearwardly and to move it sidewardly to desired distance, as before, whereupon it is simply released instead of being pushed forwardly. The provision of this or any equivalent resilient biasing means eliminates the possibility of the operator forgetting to re-engage the thread after setting the desired distance.

On the other hand, it might limit the more universal play value of the toy, for with the manually movable arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the nut purposely may be left disengaged from the thread, and the toy then used as an ordinary vehicle toy. With the biased arrangement of Fig. 9 there might always be a braking action after the toy has run a certain distance.

However, by appropriate mechanism, both advantages may be retained. Thus, an optionally usable detent may be employed to hold the handle and nut in rearward position against the action of the spring, or a projection may be provided at one end of the simulated rear bumper of the vehicle, beyond the highest numerical indication on the scale, over which projection the handle may be moved when it is desired to use the toy without brake action. Such a projection is shown at 86 in Fig. l of the drawing, and in Fig. 5.

It is believed that the construction and operation of my improved vehicle toy, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. To set the toy it is not necessary to lift it from the floor. It is merely necessary to pull the handle at the rear, move it to a desired distance on the scale, and

to then release or push the handle inwardly. The toy is then given a hard push forward, whereupon it runs the desired number of feet and then screeches and comes to an abrupt halt, which realistically resembles a suddenly stopped car.

It will be understood that while I have shown the invention applied to a motorless or so-called push toy, there is no reason why the invention could not be applied to a motor driven toy. In such case if the brake operating screw is formed on the rear axle, the motor drive is preferably applied to the front axle. However, if the opposite arrangement is desired the motor drive may be applied to the rear wheels, and the brake operating screw formed on the front axle. In that case, however, the distance control would more readily be arranged at the front instead of at the rear of the vehicle.

In the particular toy here shown the rear wheels 16 and 17 are both fixed on the threaded rear axle as. I consider this preferable in order to provide symmetrical braking action on both rear wheels so that the car will not swerve excessively. However, it will be understood that the toy will function with only the rear wheel 17 secured to therear axle, the other wheel 16 being free. Similarly, in the present toy both front wheels 14 and 15 are secured tothe front axle 44 and serve to drive the sound-producing means. However, here again it would be sufiicient to fix either the wheel 14 or the Wheel 15 alone to the axle 44, the other wheel being loose on the axle.-

It will be understood therefore, that while I have shown and described my invention in preferred forms, changes may be madein the. structures; disclosed without departing from the scope; o-the-.invention,,as sought tozbedc.- fined in the following claims. In=the claims'a-the term nut is employed for. convenience, but. isused in afunctional sense, and is intended. toiincludev a. half nut. or a fin or any other means to engage and follow the thread, even though not truly a closed. nut in. the conventional structural sense.

I claim:

1. A toy vehicle comprising abody andwheels, abrake for automatically stopping said vehicle after a selected predeterminable distance. of travel, a threaded shaft rotated by a wheel, a nut engaging said thread. and. moved thereby, the movement of. said. nut. to. a predetermined point along the shaft serving to apply the brake, means aifording release of. the nut; fromv the. thread so that it may be moved axially toany desiredjstartingpointalong the thread and thereby. varying; the distance the, vehicle will travel before the brakeis. applied, ascale anda relatively movable indicator associtaed' with. said. nut, said scale being granduatedinunits of. length. corresponding to travel of the vehicle.

2. A toy vehicle comprisingabody, front wheels and axle, rear wheels and axle, one ofsaid, axles being threaded, a lever extending horizontally beneaththe vehicle for substantially its entire length, said lever being pivoted near oneend. of the vehicle and projectingfrom the other end of the vehicle, a nut carriedlby saidilever for engaging the thread of'said' threadedaxle andithereby moving the free-end of the lever from one side toward the other as thewheels rotate,ja brake element carried by said lever for engaging a wheel" at theend ofsaid threaded axle as the, lever approaches the .wheel, said'nut being movably mounted on said lever sothatit maybe disengaged from the thread; and thereby releasing the lever for sideward adjustment to any desired starting point, at which the nut may again be .engagedwith the thread.

3. A toy vehicle comprising a body, frontwheels and axle, rear wheels and axle, one of' said axles being threaded, a lever extending horizontally beneath the vehiclefor substantially. its. entirelength, said lever being pivoted near one .end ofthevehicleand projectingfrom the other end of thevehicle, anutcarried by saidlever for engaging the threadof saidthreaded axle and .thereby moving the free end of. the lever from one side, toward the other as thewheels. rtate,,a brake element, carried by said lever for engaging a. wheelgat the end of: said threaded. axle asthelever approaches. the wheel,.said nut being movably mountedon said. lever so that itmay be disengaged fromthe threadandtthereby releasingthe lever for sideward adjustment to any desired starting point, at which the nut may again be engaged with the thread, and a scale-marked'across the-end of the-vehicle in graduations corresponding to units of travel of the vehicle until the brake is-applied, the projecting free end of the lever cooperating with said scale;

4. A toy vehicle having brake means for automatically stopping said vehicle after a selected predeterminable distance of travel, said vehicle comprising a body, front wheels and axle, rear wheels and axle, one of said axles being threaded, a lever extending horizontally be neath the vehicle for substantially its entire length, said lever being pivoted near one end of the vehicle andprojecting from the other end of the vehicle, a nut carried by said lever for engaging the thread of said threaded axle and thereby moving the free end of the lever from one side toward the other as the wheels rotate, a brake element carried by said lever for engaging a wheel at the end of said threaded axle as the lever approaches the wheel, said nut being movably mounted on said lever so that it may be disengaged from the thread and thereby release the lever for sideward adjustment to any desired starting point, at which the nut may again be engaged with the thread, the projecting free end of said lever being movably mounted on'the lever for movement relative to the lever, and being connected to said nutformoving the nut relative to the lever and thereby engaging and disengaging the same, said projecting free end serving also for moving the lever sidewardly along the threaded axle.

5. A toy vehicle having brake means for automatically stopping said vehicle after a selected predeterminable distance of travel, said vehicle comprising a body, front wheels and axle, rear wheels and axle, one of said axles being threaded, a lever extending horizontally beneath the vehicle for substantially its entire length, said lever being pivoted near one end of the vehicle and projecting from the other end of the vehicle, a nut carried by said lever for engaging the thread of said threaded axle and thereby moving the free end of the lever from one side toward the other as the wheels rotate, a brake element carried by said lever for engaging a wheelaat the end of said threaded axle as the lever. approaches the wheel, said nut being movably mounted on said lever so that .it may be disengaged from the thread and thereby releasing the lever for sideward adjustment'to any desired starting point, a scale marked across the end of the vehicle in; graduations corresponding to units of travel of the vehicle, the'projectingfree end of said lever cooperating with said scale and being'movably mounted on the lever for movement relative/to the lever, and being connected to said nut for moving the nut relative to the lever and thereby engaging and disengaging the sameysaid projecting free end serving also for moving the lever sidewardly along the threaded axle.

6L A toy vehicle comprising a body and wheels, a sound-producing device driven by awheelfor. producing asound simulating a brake screech, a brake for automatically stopping said vehicle after a selected predeterminable distance of travel, a threaded shaft rotated by a wheel, a nut engaging said thread and moved thereby, the movement of said nut to predetermined points along the shaft servingto initiate actuation of the sound-producing device and'to apply the brake, meansaffording releaseof the nut from the thread so that it may be movedaxially to any desired starting point along the thread andthereby varying the distance the vehicle will travel before the soundproducingdevice-is actuated and-the brake applied, a scalcand-a relatively, movable indicator associated with said nut, said scale being graduated in units oflength corresponding ,to travel of the vehicle.

7; A toy vehicle comprising a body, front Wheelsand axle, rear wheels and axle, one of said axles carrying a serrated wheel, a vibratile sound-producing element for engaging said wheel to produce a screeching sound, a cam controlling the engagement of said element with said wheehone of said axles being threaded, a lever extending horizontally beneath the vehicle for substantially its entire length, said lever being pivoted near one end of the vehicle and projecting from the other end of the vehicle, av nut carried by said lever for engaging the threadedaxle and thereby moving the free end of the lever from one side toward the other as the Wheels rotate, said'lever being connected to the aforesaid cam to move the same, a brake element carried by said lever for engaging a Wheel at the end o'f said threaded axle as the lever ap proaches the wheel, said nut being movably mounted on said lever so that it may be disengaged from the thread and thereby release the lever for sideward adjustment to any desired starting point.

8. A toy vehicle comprising a body, front wheels and axle, rear wheels and axle, one of said axles carrying a serrated wheel, a vibratile sound-producing element for engaging said wheel to produce a brake screeching sound, a cam controlling the engagement of said element with said wheel, one or said axles being threaded, a lever extending horizontally beneath the vehicle for substantially its entire length, said lever being pivoted near one end of the vehicle and projecting from the other end of the vehicle, a nut carried by said lever for engaging the threaded axle and thereby moving the free end of the lever from one side toward the other as the wheels rotate, said lever being connected to the aforesaid cam, a brake element carried by said lever for engaging a wheel at the end of said threaded axle as the lever approaches the Wheel, said nut being movably mounted on said lever so that it may be disengaged from the thread and thereby releasing the lever for sideward adjustment to any desired starting point, the projecting free end of said lever being movably mounted on the lever for movement relative to the lever, and being connected to said nut for moving the nut relative to the lever and thereby engaging and 'disengaging the same, said projecting free end serving also for moving the lever sidewardly along the threaded axle.

9. A toy vehicle having brake means for automatically stopping said vehicle after a selected predeterminable distance of travel, said vehicle comprising a body, front wheels and axle, rear wheels and axle, one of said axles carrying a serrated Wheel, a vibratile sound-producing element for engaging said wheel to produce a brake screeching sound, a cam controlling the engagement of said element with said wheel, one of said axles being threaded, a lever extending horizontally beneath the vehicle for substantially its entire length, said lever being pivoted near one end of the vehicle and projecting from the other end of the vehicle, a nut carried by said lever for engaging the threaded axle and thereby moving the free end of the lever from one side toward the other as the wheels rotate, said lever being connected to the aforesaid cam to move the same, a brake element carried by said lever for engaging a wheel at the end of said threaded axle as the lever approaches the wheel, said nut being movably mounted on said lever so that it may be disengaged from the thread and thereby releasing the lever for sideward adjustment to any desired starting point, a scale marked across the end of the vehicle in graduations corresponding to units of travel of the vehicle, the projecting free end of said lever cooperating with said scale.

10. A toy vehicle having brake means for automatically stopping said vehicle after a selected predeterminable distance of travel, said vehicle comprising a body, front wheels and axle, rear wheels and axle, one of said axles carrying a serrated wheel, a vibratile sound-producing element for engaging said wheel to produce a brake screeching sound, a cam controlling the engagement of said element with said wheel, one of said axles being threaded, a lever extending horizontally beneath the vehicle for substantially its entire length, said lever being pivoted near one end of the vehicle and projecting from the other end of the vehicle, a nut carried by said lever for engaging the threaded axle and thereby moving the free end of the lever from one side toward the other as the Wheels rotate, said lever being connected to the aforeaxle as the lever approaches the wheel, said nut being movably mounted on said lever so that it may be disengaged from the thread and thereby release the lever for sideward adjustment to any desired starting point, a scale marked across the end of the vehicle in graduations corresponding to units of travel of the vehicle, the projecting free end of said lever cooperating with said scale and being movably mounted on the lever for movement relative to the lever, and being connected to said nut for moving the nut relative to the lever and thereby engaging and disengaging the same, said projecting free end serving also for moving the lever sidewardly along the threaded axle.

11. A toy vehicle comprising a body and wheels, a brake for automatically stopping said vehicle after a selected predeterminable distance of travel, means responsive to a predetermined integrated rotation of the wheels to apply the brake, means accessible on the outside of the vehicle body to readily vary the predetermined rotation, said means including a scale and an indicator cooperating with said scale, and said scale being in units of length corresponding to the travel of the vehicle permitted before the brake is applied.

12. A toy vehicle comprising a body and wheels, a brake for automatically stopping said vehicle after a selected predeterminable distance of travel, a sound-producing device actuated by a wheel for producing a sound simulating a brake screech, means responsive to predetermined integrations of rotations of the wheels to initiate operation of the sound-producing device and to apply the brake respectively, means accessible on the outside of the vehicle body to readily vary the predetermined integrations, said means including a scale and an indicator cooperating with said scale, said scale being in units of length corresponding to the travel of the vehicle permitted before the sound-producing device is actuated and the brake applied.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,457,367 Hubers June 5, 1923 2,066,826 Davis Jan. 5, 1937 2,108,584 Gluth Feb. 15, 1938 2,137,357 Schmid Nov. 22, 1938 2,146,665 Wood Feb. 7, 1939 2,159,974 Lohr May 30, 1939 2,227,241 Bonett et al Dec. 31, 1940 2,234,837 Allen Mar. 11, 1941 2,390,273 Ronning Dec. 4, 1945 2,512,514 Adell June 20, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 162,101 Great Britain Apr. 28, 1921 340,103 Germany Sept. 2, 1921 404,465 Germany 1924 802,445 Germany Feb. 12, 1951 

